beneteau build quality - whats your experience

wotayottie

wotayottie

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Please dont make this another AWB vs MAB thread! I'm not interested in older boats.

I fancy a cruiser racer about 35ft, and I want new or nearly new because I'm fed up of replacing bits on an older boat. In fact, I think I deserve something a bit flashy and shiny for a change. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif And my choice of flashy is limited to boats these days by age and threats from swmbo.

I dont want to spend more money than I have to ( Yorkshireman /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) so my mind turned to a new First 36.7. But the question at the back of my mind is "how well made " are they bearing in mind that a competitive race boat is built as light as possible. Will I find myself dealing with leaks / gel cracks / bulkheads coming loose etc

It wont be put onto theserious race circuit since I'm not a good enough sailor. I just want a boat that sails like a witch - the sort of boat where you dont think twice of approaching a mooring under sail. Where you always sail even if it takes twice as long as motoring. Where you have lots of tweaky bits. And a bit of Corinthian club racing as well.

So are there any First owners out there - what are they like. What are the alternatives? Jeanneau, Hanse, Elan, X yachts.
 
Not a First owner, but an Oceanis.... i'm very happy with the build quality of mine.... we've given her a bit of a bashing.... fallen off a few waves, got thoroughly soaked on deck, but not below, and generally pushed her quite hard on occasions, and had no problems whatsoever.... bulkheads seem substantial, doors still open and close properly when hard on the wind in a breeze, internal mouldings are of a decent weight, wiring and plumbing are well thought out and use decent quality fittings, and internal joinery is substantial enough that you don't feel like you are going to break things by just using them...

i'm coming at this from the perspective of having previously owned a full on race boat, so not blind to the differences in handling, fit out etc etc....

I have sailed a couple of times on the Firsts, and so do have a little insight in that respect too.... I don't think that the build quality or construction is really any different... they just have a slippier hull shape, a bigger rig, a deeper keel, and use less wood down below...

I'm confident enough in her to not worry too much about rough weather... and really enjoy 'sailing' her rather than just 'being on her'....
 
Beneteau's are really well made boats. You don't get to be N°1 otherwise. Mass production means that they can offer quality at lower prices and they have the development skills in-house to constantly improve them.

I personally wouldn't want one though, on purely esthetical grounds - too banal.

John
 
Got an Oceanis that's a couple of years old. No complaints about the plastic bits, woodwork, rigging etc..... The only thing that I have a gripe about is the quality of the stainless steel used. There seems to me to be a heck of a lot of rust stains appearing around fittings in the cockpit in particular. The Beneteau guy says that the stainless steel isn't the best, however did say that it's not any different to what many other manufacturer's use. It's a bit unsightly and requires cleaning, but other than that I have no complaints. Actually now that I think about it, the rudder bearings were fixed due to excessive play and when I looked around the yard at other Ben's, several seemed to exhibit the same problem. It was fixed under warranty without any problems. Maybe other makes show this problem as well, but I must admit I didn't check them. Would I buy another Ben? Yes.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like you want a Dufour 34. Nice FAST boat with good accommodation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd second that, my old man has a 40, and it's a great boat!

Also worth a look at would be the Elan 340, X34 and the Dehler 34. Altough they're very new boats (all launched in the last 18 months or so) so doubtful you'd find any on the "nearly new" market just yet. The X is the most cruisy out of those boats, but it's an X, so "cruisy" is a relative term!

And for more cash the J109 is a good boat, with very good One design racing, can't say I'd recommend one over the X if you're not racing though.
 
My 331 is now 6yrs old (how time flies) and has proven to be well built. We had a few minor gel coat flaws, in the cockpit/deck moulding, and a rudder shim that needed rebedding that were repaired under warranty , but other than that there have been few, if any, problems. The furniture and fittings have all been well up to the job, and we have been very pleased with her. Interestingly, the image, in this months YM, of a well arranged chainplate anchorage appears to have been taken on a Benny.

I have kept away from the newer boats, in order to avoid temptation, so I can't comment on the quality of the latest offerings, but would most certainly consider buying another new Benny.
 
I think the build quality of most new boats is pretty good these days, although the finishing can sometimes be a bit variable. I expect this is mainly because bad news travels a heck of a lot faster and wider than it ever used to!
 
I can certainly attest to the build quality of Steve's Benny, having spent several weekends on board, including a couple of Channel crossings. In particular, I can confirm that the bunks in the saloon are well able to support a fat drunkard, though the sound insulation - particularly against strident snoring from across the cabin - leaves something to be desired. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously - she is a fine boat and doesn't look 6 years old, either inside or out.

(BTW Steve, I was down at the yard last Saturday and again on Monday; it was incredibly windy, particularly on Saturday, but I popped down to the pontoon and your bateau was fine.)
 
I've also spent a couple of weekends aboard Steve's fine craft crossing the channel... and it was this experience that led me down the Beneteau path....

In fact, one of the return trips from Cherbourg in a building stiff breeze, down wind and surfing, was one of those 'special' sails that only come along infrequently, and the boat handled it wonderfully, and was fabulous fun to sail.... to the extent that we all jostled for time on the helm... hitting (correct me if i'm wrong Steve or James) about 13.5kts STW.....
 
Ive got a 2003 beneteau - the build quality seems very good to me - the only grip i'd have is the galley worksurfaces, but theve fixed all that on the latest models - i'd certainly go for another ben if I ever change the boat
 
[ QUOTE ]
In fact, one of the return trips from Cherbourg in a building stiff breeze, down wind and surfing, was one of those 'special' sails that only come along infrequently, and the boat handled it wonderfully, and was fabulous fun to sail.... to the extent that we all jostled for time on the helm... hitting (correct me if i'm wrong Steve or James) about 13.5kts STW.....

[/ QUOTE ] Can't remember the exact record, but that sounds about right; one of those magic days.

The other thing that struck me was that, in spite of an alleged tendency for modern yachts to slam, we didn't experience it, even in the short choppy seas going through the Needles Channel. Or perhaps I was hyped-up on ginger nuts and didn't notice... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
 
[ QUOTE ]
though the sound insulation - particularly against strident snoring from across the cabin - leaves something to be desired.

[/ QUOTE ] I can assure you that NOTHING could attenuate the noise -or should that be nose?- levels generated by that particular environmental hazard.

Thanks for looking in on the boat. We are pretty bogged down with nursing my mum at the mo and have not had a chance to get down. If I can't scrounge day away from the desk I might prevail upon you to get the keys from the HM and have a quick look on board.
 
But are any of these reports about a First as opposed to an Oceanis. What makes me wonder is the combination of a lighter structure in the boat and bigger rig / harder use that a First will suffer.

And does anybody have first hand experience of the oppositiion other than Dufour?
 
I have an Oceanis 343, just over a year old now, and I confess that doing the first Scuttlebutt with Steve aboard his made up my mind from my shortlist, which was the Benny, the 36.1 Jenny I was put off that for two reasons, it was the first year of the new injection moulded deck process and did not really want to be the tester of this (although I have not heard of any problems) and the cost, they could not get anywhere near the deal I made on the Benny, the Hanse Probably sailed a bit better if I am honest, and the Elan, that was a bit pricey but well put together.

I have to say I am very pleased with it, I have been out in some good blows, best being a good 35 knots off Beachy Head, apart from badly needed a third reef, nothing broke, all the doors opened and closed, and whilst she was a bit hard pressed all was ok.

Its well made, Ok its not hand finished but the fit and finish is very good, very good fiitings, the only small issues I have had are with dealer fitted items.

For comparison I spent a weekend in a First 37 in the solent three weekends ago, blew well all weekend, skipper was a pro so we pushed the boat really hard, much harder than I would have pushed my own and again it just shrugged it off, the first obviously has much more slippy hull shape, deeper keel, and a taller rig.

The Acid test would I buy another one, yes I think I would /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
But are any of these reports about a First as opposed to an Oceanis. What makes me wonder is the combination of a lighter structure in the boat and bigger rig / harder use that a First will suffer.

And does anybody have first hand experience of the oppositiion other than Dufour?

[/ QUOTE ]

The offshore results of the 40.7s in particular ought to reassure you of the build quality. A number of them finished last year's fastnet. And I could be wrong (and I'm sure I'll be corrected if I am) but I don't remember hearing of any damage amongst the 40.7s that quit, just sick crew!
 
I am currently going through the same process, We currently have a old half tonner that sails like a witch but i am fed up repairing her.

We looked at the Elan 340 ( poorly built in our opinion) the First, looks well built and sailed nicely but our current favourite is the Archambault A35 http://www.wessexyachts.co.uk/new-archambault-yachts.htm, bit more racy with no or little wood, but very very practical and comfortable for our type of sailing. Under sail it puts the First and the elan to shame.

The other boat that we have to test ( when we have done so we will make our final choice) is the malbec 360, It looks good on paper and i think the dealer is a formurite http://www.emwmarine.co.uk/malbec360.htm
 
hello

Another benny 343 owner here, we have had the boat since 2006 and happy with the build quality and handling.
The boat has kept us safe so far on the North Sea in lots of lively conditions, no signs of failures so far.

I have been aboard a couple of firsts and they use the same grid system as most of the bennies, as others have said bigger rigs and slippery lines.


franky
 
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